Three-wheeled electrically propelled cart

ABSTRACT

A three-wheeled, self-propelled cart characterized in that the operator stands on the cart, straddling a drive motor for two drive wheels while holding onto an upstanding post with one hand and grasping a tongue-type steering pole with the other hand. The steering pole is connected to the third wheel and is curved outwardly and around the aforesaid post such that the operator&#39;&#39;s hands will be separated; while movement of the steering pole inwardly or outwardly will cause the third wheel to pivot about a vertical axis to steer the vehicle. A golf bag or other receptacle can be carried on the vehicle ahead of the upstanding post and is usually secured to the post by a strap or the like.

llnited States Watent Mitltltllllitllllll 5.] Mar. 14, 1972 [54]THRlElE-WHEELED ELECTWICAILLY 3,099,326 7/1963 Weigel et a1. ..l80/65 XlPlitUlPElLlLlED CART 3,162,261 12/1964 Everroad 3,312,300 5/1967 Jones..l80/l9 Primary Examiner-Kenneth l-ll. Betts AttorneyBrown, Murray,Flick & Pecltham [5 7] AMSTRACT A three-wheeled, self-propelled cartcharacterized in that the operator stands on the cart, straddling adrive motor for two drive wheels while holding onto an upstanding postwith one hand and grasping a tongue-type steering pole with the otherhand. The steering pole is connected to the third wheel and is curvedoutwardly and around the aforesaid post such that the operators handswill be separated; while movement of the steering pole inwardly oroutwardly will cause the third wheel to pivot about a vertical axis tosteer the vehicle. A golf bag or other receptacle can be carried on thevehicle ahead of the upstanding post and is usually secured to the postby a strap or the like.

0 Claims, 4 Drawing; Figures PATENTEDMARMIQYE 3,648,795

SHEET 1 BF 2 FIG: 2.

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H. DOU6LA85 MOUL r0/v y A I farneys TlIlIlltElli-WlllllElliLlElDELECTRICAILILY lPlltOlPlElLlLEll) CART BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION As isknown, there is a large need for small driven vehicles which can carryonly a single man and a small amount of relatively light cargo. Suchvehicles can be used, for example, by messengers, for parts delivery inlarge industrial plants, or as golf carts. The usual golf cart willaccommodate at least two individuals and, as a consequence, isrelatively large and bulky, at least too large to be carried in thetrunk of an automobile. This means that most golf carts are owned bygolf courses or country clubs and rented to players. Furthermore, thesize of a conventional golf cart, which is usually battery powered,necessitates the use of a relatively large drive motor and other heavycomponents, including the batteries. As a result, the initial cost ofsuch carts is high as is the rental which must be charged for their use.Hence, there is a need for a lightweight golf cart which willaccommodate a single golfer, which can be bought or rented cheaply, andwhich can be folded and placed in an automobile trunk if desired wherebythe golfer can buy his own cart and need not rent one each time heplays.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, alightweight, low-cost cart is provided comprising a body portion formedfrom steel, molded fiber glass or the like and having two drive wheelsat the rear and a single steerable wheel at the front. Centrally carriedon the body are one or more batteries and a direct current drive motor,preferably connected to the two drive wheels through a differential. Inusing the cart, the operator places his feet on two footpads on eitherside of the batteries and drive motor, and holds onto an upstanding postanchored to the body at the forward portion of the vehicle. Steering isaccomplished by means of a tongue-type steering pole connected to thethird or front wheel and curved outwardly and around the aforesaid postsuch that the operator can hold onto the post with one hand and use hisother hand to move the steering pole inwardly or outwardly and therebysteer the vehicle.

When the vehicle is used as a golf cart, a golf bag is secured, in anupright position, to the aforesaid post and rests on the forward portionof the vehicle body adjacent the third, steering wheel. Both thestationary post and the aforesaid steering pole can be provided with apivoted joint or can be removable in order that the cart can be pickedup and placed in an automobile trunk.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification,and in which:

FIG. l is a side view of the cart ofthe invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the cart of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the cart of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of one type of differential drive whichcan be used with the vehicle of the invention.

With reference now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1-3, thecart shown includes a body section 110 preferably formed in one piecefrom fiber glass or the like. However, the body can also be formed fromsheet metal or other similar material, if desired. As perhaps best shownin FIGS. 2 and 3, the body It) includes a central upstanding housing 12which defines a cavity for receiving two storage batteries l4 and 16.The batteries 14 and 16 can be connected in parallel or series through aspeed control rheostat, hereinafter described, to a direct current drivemotor 16 also housed within the cavity l2. As best shown in FIG. 3, oneither side of the cavity 12 are running boards 20 and 22 provided withfoot pads 24 and 26, respectively, on which the operator stands. At therear of the vehicle are two drive wheels 26 and 30 connected through adifferential 32 (FIG. 2) and a chain and sprocket arrangement 34 to thedrive motor 1%. Suitable means, not shown, are provided for holding thevarious parts within the cavity E2 in position. As best shown in FIG. 2,the

differential 32 is connected to the wheels 28 and 30 through axleshoused within axle housings 36 and 38 extending through the walls of thecavity 12 and supported by bushings 40 extending downwardly from thebody 110.

At the forward end of the body it), as best shown in FIGS. l and 3, isan opening fitted with a bushing 42 which receives the shank portion 44of a fork 46. An axle 48 extends between the opposite legs of the fork46 and supports a third, steerable wheel 50. The shank portion 44 of thefork 46, in turn, is connected to a curved tongue-type steering pole 52which curves outwardly and to the right as shown in FIG. 3. The upperend of the steering pole 52 is provided with a handle grip 54 such thatit may be gripped by one hand of the operator and moved inwardly oroutwardly as viewed in FIG. 3 to pivot the wheel 50 about a verticalaxis and thereby steering the vehicle.

Extending upwardly from the forward portion of the body 110 is a post 56provided with braces 55. The post 56, in turn, is connected to a handle57 provided with a handle grip 58 grasped by the other or left-hand ofthe operator. Either the handle grip 54 or handle grip 58 is rotatableand connected to a rheostat which, in turn, controls the supply of powerto the motor l4 and, hence, the speed of the vehicle.

The arrangement shown in the drawings is suitable for a right-handedoperator since the handle grip 54 will be grasped by the right hand andthe handle grip 58 by the left hand. However, in the case of alefthanded operator, the steering pole 52 may be curved to the left asviewed in FIG. 3. In order that the device may be collapsed and insertedinto an automobile trunk, the post 56 is provided with aquick-disconnect coupling 60 adjacent the body 10. Braces 55 are fittedinto sockets in the body It) and are removable therefrom. Similarly, thesteering pole 52 is provided with a quick-disconnect coupling 62 inorder that the pole 52, and the post 56 may be removed when the vehicleis stored in an automobile trunk or other enclosure. Ahead of thebifurcated post 56 is a storage area 64 on which a golf bag 66, forexample, can rest. The golf bag, in turn, is secured to the post 56 bymeans of a strap 68.

The details of the differential drive arrangement of the invention areshown in FIG. 4. It comprises two miter gears 70 and 72 secured to theadjacent inner ends of axles 74 and 76 by means of pins 78. The oppositeends of the axles 74 and 76 are secured to the wheels 28 and 30 as bypins 80. A housing 82 surrounds the miter gears 70 and 72 and has hubs84 rotatably mounted on the ends of the miter gears 70 and 72 wherebythe housing 84 is rotatable about the coaxial central axes of the axles74 and 76. A bushing member 86 is carried by the inner ends of the axles74, 76 and is freely rotatable thereon. The bushing member 86 hasoppositely-extending shafts 88 with ends engaged in openings 90 providedin the housing 82. Consequently, the housing 82 and the bushing member86 are connected and rotate in unison about the axles 74 and 76. Shafts88 carry idler miter gears 92, each of which is disposed in meshingengagement with the miter gears 70, 72. The idler miter gears 92 arerotatable about the shafts 88 of the bushing member 86. As will beappreciated, the driven sprocket 94 is secured to the housing 42 androtates the same as the motor 18, connected to the sprocket 94 throughchain drive 34, rotates.

As the driven sprocket 94 rotates, the housing 82, the idler miter gears92, the miter gears 70, 72 and the axles 74, 76 will rotate in unison todrive the wheels 28 and 30. If the vehicle is being driven forward in asubstantially straight line path of travel, the wheels 26 and 30 willrotate at the same speed. However, when the vehicle is turning, thewheel on the inside of the turn will roll over a shorter distance thanthe wheel on the outside of the turn. The idler miter gears 92 permitthe axles 74, 76 to be driven at different angular velocities when thevehicle is executing a turn. Consequently, the angular velocities of thewheels are automatically adjusted to compensate for the difference inthe length of the circumferential path of travel of each wheel.Therefore, the wheels will not skid during a turn and are subjected to aminimum amount of wear.

in certain cases, it may be possible to eliminate the differentialarrangement shown in FIG. 4; however in most instances the differentialwill be preferred.

In the operation of the vehicle of the invention, the operator simplystands on the footpads 24 and 26 and grasps the two handle grips 54 and58, one of which is rotatable and connected to a rheostat as mentionedabove. In order to start the vehicle, the rotatable grip is turned,whereupon power is supplied from the batteries 16 to the motor 18 bysuitable control circuitry, not shown.The type of motor used and themotor control, therefore, will be similar to those used for otherelectric vehicles.

instead of riding the cart, it is also possible to tilt the forwardwheel 50 upwardly about the drive wheels with the operator guiding thecart while walking behind or to the side of it. This can be done with orwithout power. Without power, the operator will pull or push thevehicle. With power, he will control the device by a rotatable handlegrip 54 connected to a rheostat as mentioned above. This rheostat, ofcourse, can be replaced by a squeeze-type grip if desired.

Although the invention has been shown in connection with a certainspecific embodiment, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in theart that various changes in form and arrangement of parts may be made tosuit requirements without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention. In this respect, it will be apparent that instead of using anelectric motor drive, a gasoline motor could be used equally as well.Furthermore, a direct gear drive can be used in some cases rather than adifferential.

I claim as my invention:

1. A three-wheeled vehicle comprising a body portion having two drivewheels at one end thereof and a single steerable wheel mounted to rotateabout a generally 'vertical axis at the other end thereof, an upstandingpost at said other end of said vehicle adapted to be grasped by one handof an operator, a tonguelike steering pole connected to said singlesteerable wheel and curved around said post to be grasped by the otherhand of the operator such that movement of the steering pole inwardly oroutwardly with respect to said post will pivot said steerable wheelabout its generally vertical axis to steer said vehicle, motor meanscarried on said body centrally thereof and drivingly connected to saiddrive wheels, and means on either side of said motor means for receivingthe feet of an operator standing in an upright position and graspingwith his two hands said upright post and said steering pole,respectively.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said motor means is drivinglyconnected to said drive wheels through a differential and a pair ofaxles.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said motor means comprises a directcurrent electric motor, and including battery means for said motorcarried on said body between said means for receiving the feet of anoperator.

4. The vehicle of claim 3 including a rotatable element adapted to begrasped by the hand of an operator and connected to a rheostat forvarying the speed of said electric motor.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 including a storage area on the vehicle aheadof said post for supporting cargo to be carried by said vehicle.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said upright post and said steeringpole are fastened to said body through connections which permit the poleand post to be folded downwardly whereby the vehicle can be stored in acompact space.

7. The three-wheeled vehicle of claim 1 wherein said body portion isformed from fiber glass.

8. A three-wheeled vehicle comprising a body portion having two drivewheels at one end thereof and a single steerable wheel mounted to rotateabout a generally vertical axis at the other end thereof, an upstandingpost at said other end of said vehicle adapted to be grasped by one handof an operator, a steering pole connected to said single steerable wheeland extending u wardly adjacent said post to be rasped by the other handof t e operator such that rotationa movement of the steering pole abouta generally vertical axis will pivot said steerable wheel to steer saidvehicle, motor means carried on said body centrally thereof anddrivingly connected to said drive wheels, means on either side of saidmotor means for receiving the feet of an operator standing in an uprightposition and grasping with his two hands said upright post and saidsteering pole, respectively, and a storage area on the vehicle ahead ofsaid post for supporting cargo to be carried by said vehicle.

1. A three-wheeled vehicle comprising a body portion having two drive wheels at one end thereof and a single steerable wheel mounted to rotate about a generally vertical axis at the other end thereof, an upstanding post at said other end of said vehicle adapted to be grasped by one hand of an operator, a tonguelike steering pole connected to said single steerable wheel and curved around said post to be grasped by the other hand of the operator such that movement of tHe steering pole inwardly or outwardly with respect to said post will pivot said steerable wheel about its generally vertical axis to steer said vehicle, motor means carried on said body centrally thereof and drivingly connected to said drive wheels, and means on either side of said motor means for receiving the feet of an operator standing in an upright position and grasping with his two hands said upright post and said steering pole, respectively.
 2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said motor means is drivingly connected to said drive wheels through a differential and a pair of axles.
 3. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said motor means comprises a direct current electric motor, and including battery means for said motor carried on said body between said means for receiving the feet of an operator.
 4. The vehicle of claim 3 including a rotatable element adapted to be grasped by the hand of an operator and connected to a rheostat for varying the speed of said electric motor.
 5. The vehicle of claim 1 including a storage area on the vehicle ahead of said post for supporting cargo to be carried by said vehicle.
 6. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said upright post and said steering pole are fastened to said body through connections which permit the pole and post to be folded downwardly whereby the vehicle can be stored in a compact space.
 7. The three-wheeled vehicle of claim 1 wherein said body portion is formed from fiber glass.
 8. A three-wheeled vehicle comprising a body portion having two drive wheels at one end thereof and a single steerable wheel mounted to rotate about a generally vertical axis at the other end thereof, an upstanding post at said other end of said vehicle adapted to be grasped by one hand of an operator, a steering pole connected to said single steerable wheel and extending upwardly adjacent said post to be grasped by the other hand of the operator such that rotational movement of the steering pole about a generally vertical axis will pivot said steerable wheel to steer said vehicle, motor means carried on said body centrally thereof and drivingly connected to said drive wheels, means on either side of said motor means for receiving the feet of an operator standing in an upright position and grasping with his two hands said upright post and said steering pole, respectively, and a storage area on the vehicle ahead of said post for supporting cargo to be carried by said vehicle. 